'A strong kid': Del Valle student weathers heart defects, surgery for scoliosis
Margarito Patina-Trujillo, 14, was born with three congenital heart defects. This fall, he underwent back surgery to fix his scoliosis, a sideway curvature of the spine.
His parents, Betty Patina-Trujillo, 48, and Ruben Trujillo, 50, said he needed the surgery because scoliosis was preventing him from breathing properly. The doctors were scared Margarito’s spine would collapse into his lungs, she said.
Both parents were worried about Margarito going into surgery, but they knew it had to happen for his health.
“I knew he was a strong kid,” Trujillo said. “I knew that he would come through.”
The Trujillo family is part of the Statesman's Season for Caring program, which helps hundreds of families each year through local nonprofit agencies. The Trujillo family was nominated by Wonder & Worries, which helps children whose parent has a serious illness.
Patina-Trujillo has multiple sclerosis and celiac disease. Trujillo is blind in one eye and legally blind in the other.
Read more: Trujillo family continue to push through medical challenges | Season for Caring 2023
Margarito, who often goes by the nickname Mars, said he was scared about the surgery in October, but he enjoyed the halo-gravity traction, a method of stretching and straightening a compressed or curved spine. He said the halo-gravity traction in August felt like he was in zero gravity.
After his surgery in October, Margarito said he is able to breathe better but still has a long way to go. He said he is thankful for the support of his entire family.
“This year has been tough,” Margarito said. “But we have been pushing through and living on.”
Learn more: 12 families featured in the 25th Season for Caring program. Here's how you can help.
His 9-year-old sister, Eliza, said she missed playing with her brother the six days he was in the hospital. Now that he is home, Eliza has helped to take care of him, bringing him whatever he needs while he was on bed rest.
Despite the medical hardships the family must face, they all remain grateful to have one another. The parents say they won’t let their own medical problems prevent them from taking care of their kids.
“We’ve persevered,” Trujillo said.
The Trujillo family needs a wheelchair ramp, home repairs, an electric stove, a refrigerator, car tires, a professional organizer and a computer. Margarito and Eliza both have gifts for Christmas on their Amazon wish list.
To find out more about the Trujillo family or to give an item on their wish list, contact Wonders & Worries, 512-329-5757, wondersandworries.org.
About Season for Caring
The Statesman will be sharing the stories of all 12 Season for Caring families throughout the holiday season. Find more stories and information at statesman.com/seasonforcaring. You can donate online or use the coupon on Page 2B. Now through Dec. 25, all monetary donations will be matched up to $500,000 by the Sheth family. On Saturday, P. Terry's is donating all its profits to Season for Caring.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: How one Del Valle boy lives with scoliosis, 3 congenital heart defects
